'Such, many years pafled, was the character given of Ifaiah in one of the most confummate works of criticism: an important work indeed, whether we confider its fubferviency to religion, the fupremeft object of human concern, or its reference to poetry, that highest energy of human intellect, that noblest and loveliest expreffion of human fentiment and passion, that laft perfection of human language, that fureft embalmer of wisdom for all ages, that art for ever dignified by the practice of the holy prophets, and by the folemn fanction of the divine spirit itself; in a few words, that art which can (if any can) alone give us the most perfect and attractive image of virtue, and with a fort of God-like faculty fpread before us a fairer order of things, and create (as it were) a new heaven and a new earth to raife our drooping fpirits."

We believe the author would find fome difficulty in proving that the prophets always expreffed themfelves poetically, and in explaining to our fatisfaction how the art itself has obtained the fanction of the divine Spirit. The latter affertion is an abfurdity: the former, if we understand him right, a mistake. If he means, that because the prophets ufed in general a poetic ftyle, that therefore fomething facred is annexed to the nature of poetry, the idea is puerile. It might be proved that there is fomething noble and divine in profe, and equally fubfervient to religion, by the fame argument; for Chrift fpoke, and his apoftles wrote, without any artificial arrangement of words, or modulation of numbers. In regard to what follows, in the Preface, we heartily concur with the author in the praises bestowed on Dr. Lowth, but do not equally agree with him in other matters; not fo much that we controvert his pofitions, as that we really do not comprehend them. What connection, for inftance, can we find, or what meaning collect, from the following ill-forted fentences? The whole chain of argumentation, if we may call it fo, feems composed of broken links of heterogeneous materials.

The literary taste of a people must in part be imputed to literary principles, and in this refpect we are right or wrong not only from what we commonly do, but from what we commonly read, from the habit of our fpeculations as well as actions. To be prejudiced, is a difpofition to which one is fubject more than is ufually fufpected, and therefore we too much admire as well as defpife the works of antiquity, overlooking the gains as well as loffes of time. It is God-like in many inftances to be pleased with variety, for variety characterises the works as well as word of God. We too often condemn as wrong what we fhould rather fay we diflike, and we thence form theories to jullify prejudice, and to rivet infirmity on the mind, inftead of fuch as would increafe its ftrength, enlarge its fympathy with whatever it to en courage the advancement of things. The works of men, that are now no more, and which are come down to us

5

laudablend difpole

precious

precious from the fiery fearching of many ages, affuredly demand the stamp of praife from the prefent times,'

We are forry to observe that, in too many other places where the author aims at being argumentative, he becomes abftrufe ; and where he attempts an elevation of ftyle, he degenerates into bombatt. As a fpecimen of his poetical abilities we shall give his version of the feven firft verfes of the fifty-third chapter, which contains the remarkable prediction of our Saviour's humble appearance on earth, and is probably as interefting and pathetic a paffage as any in the prophecies of Ifaiah

་ འ་

༢༣༡

Who (fhall he fay) hath our report receiv'd?
And unto whom from heav'n hath been reveal'd
Jehovah's arm? Behold by mortal eyes
Low from the ground he feem'd a fhoot to rife
Tender, ill-rooted in a barren earth,
Yea of a mean prefentment from his birth.
In him nor air nor form majestic move
Rev'rence, nor all-attractive beauty love.
Defpis'd, and to rejecting fcorn a prey,
As one that had not where his head to lay,
Held in th' account of poverty's worst state
As fhame-funk, woe-begone, and defolate;
A man indeed of fuch fupremeft grief
As feem'd to human fight beyond relief.
He was defpis'd, he was upon our fcorn
Caft, yet our frailties all hath kindly borne.
But though our forrows have his burthen been,
Still in our fcorn as justly ftricken feen

As troubled by God's felf and fmitten, we - With cruel cenfure point calamity.

Yet not for his offences but our own

He with his forrows pays our fin's vaft loan; For us is wounded, his benign intent Our peace to purchase with his punishment, And with his bruifes heal us, from our way "Wand'ring afide as careless sheep aftray. Thence hath Jehovah made on him to fall The fin-wrought fentence haft'ning on us all, And from us all exacted, but his grace Pow❜rful came in impleaded in our place. Then as the lamb approaching flaughter's hand, And as the sheep before the theerer itand Mute, unrefifting, thus from rev'rence meek This gen'rous victim deems it blame to speak, And yielding filent to the folemn law'nda Deigns on his head our mortal doom to draw. The fenfe is here fufficiently dilated; but, we apprehend, the fpirt and pathos of the original proportionably diminished. In

Twe

fome

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231

fome places Mr. Butt has wrote in a more fpirited manner, and confequently fucceeded better; and we would recommend to him in any future compofition, not to be fo poetical in his profe, and to be lefs profaic in his verse.

Abelard to Eloifa: an Epißle. With a new Account of their Lives, and References to their Original Correspondence. Small 8vo. 6d. Dilly.

THIS
HIS Epiftle, or rather the sketch of it, appeared in a small
poetical collection, of which we gave fome account, vol.
lvii. p. 5. It is now altered and confiderably enlarged. We then
took notice that the author, confidered as an imitator, not a
rival, of Pope, appeared in a refpectable light;' and we ob-
ferve, with pleafure, that the prefent poem approaches ftill
nearer to that author's in grace and harmony. As our first opi-
nion was given without any quotation to establish its justice,
we shall fubmit the following in vindication of our fentiments.
The first lines allude to the abbey of St. Gildas, in Britanny,
from whence Abelard's epiftles are faid to be written. The
concluding ones, which defcribe his former affection as re-
kindled at the name of Eloifa, mixed with the enthufiaftic fen-
timents his fituation would moft naturally be fuppofed to pro
duce, are truly beautiful.

'Miftaking man! who thinks in fhades to find
The charms that lull the long-impassion'd mind;
Or dreams the cloifter'd cell alone fecure
From common woes that all his race endure.

'Ye naked hills, unblefs'd by nature's care!
Ye vales, unconscious of the labouring share,
Stretch'd many a league, whence iffuing to the day
The fhaggy tenant feeks a diftant prey!
Unfightly cliffs, within whofe cavern'd fides
Her talon'd young the fcreaming vulture hides!
Ye feas, that round yon rocky-cinctur'd tower
With fleepless fury vex the midnight hour!
In your despite an abfent world retains
Her joyless flaves in fublunary chains,
Or grofs debauch, and fullen floth combine,
To check remorfe, and quench the ray divine.
For as the maniac, in his fordid cell,
Will oft on fancy'd thrones and fceptres dwell
So these fad exiles from the focial kind
As falfely rate the toys they left behind.

In vain remonftrance lends her feeble aid,
They scorn the doctrine, and the guide upbraid.
"And dare that hand affume the paftor's rod ?
Behold the frontlefs delegate of God!
In other climes thy forward zeal be shown,
And preach where Abelard is yet unknown ;

Or banish'd hence to Paraclete remove,

Where maids may melt, and heretics approve."
While keener fome the venom'd shaft inflame,
And point reproach with Eloifa's name.
Wild at the found to folitude 1 fly,
And meet the form familiar to my eye:-
She comes refulgent in her former charms!
The fpoufe of heaven is render'd to my arms!
Her voice I hear, on Abelard the calls,
And waves to Paraclete's neglected walls.
Yet, O forbear thofe fatal fmiles conceal,
And not the woman, but the faint reveal ;
The clafping hands, the fcatter'd locks, difplay,
And ftreaming tears by angels wip'd away;
The head that bows to mercy's awful shrine,
The glance that melts with charity divine.
The grateful burit of penitence forgiven,
And afpect radiant with the beams of heaven!
Nor this alone-fuperior duties claim
Heaven's awful spouse, a mother's facred name.
Shall earthly parents with preventive fear
Bend o'er the babe that carnal ties endear,
And he alone felected from the reft

To foothe with pious hopes the finner's breaft,
Neglect the task by Providence affign'd,
And teave the children of her foul behind? -
Ev'n now, methinks, thy veftal-charge I fee,
Diffolv'd in kindred tranfports caught from thee,
With clearer anthems hail the Saviour's throne,
And pant for grace with ardours not their own.
That where fecluded nature loves to pour
The limpid wave befide the myrtle bower
The rifing walls of Paraclete may show
That heavenly comfort deigns to dwell below;
And oft while Hefper leads the starry throng
Ethereal harps the closing strain prolong.

From fcenes like thofe when Eloifa's foul
Afpires in holy trance beyond the pole,
When every mortal care is lull'd to reft,
And heaven-plum'd hope expatiates with the bleft,
Say, wilt thou fhut for ever from thy fight
Whofe prefence might alloy the pure delight;
Nor lift on hallow'd figh, one friendly prayer,
One tender with to meet thy lover there?

And fure when hope with infant hold prepar'd
To lay the morn of blifs we fondly fhar'd,
Even reafon's felf could fcarcely find to blame,
So guiltless feem'd the involuntary flame.
Ingenuous arts the tempting hour beguil'd,
Confenting rafte, indulgent fancy fmil'd;
VOL. LX. July, 1785.

F

Severer

Severer fcience join'd the blooming train,
And virtue paus'd at love's enchanting train.
Alas! that letter'd ease, by heaven design'd
The pureft inmate of the feeling mind,....
The fairest gift that nature can bestow,
Should prompt the breaft with guilty fires to glow!

Untouch'd, unfway'd by fortune's bafe controul,
I prais'd not empty form without a foul;

Fair as thou wert, with more than beauty bright
Thy mental charms diffus'd a stronger light.
And well thou know't when absent and alone
In gentle verfe I made my wishes known,
Content to pleafe, not emulous to shine

The careless numbers flow'd from rapture's fhrine,
Nor once defcended to the flatterer's part,
Anxious to gain but not corrupt the heart.
Yet haply thofe, condemn'd to lasting fame,
In future times fhall fan the dangerous flame;
To fure deftruction's filken fnares engage
The deftin'd victims of a distant age;
With cruel mirth the fcorner's tale prolong,
And lend new licence to the drunkard's fong.

"O treacherous moment, short, and infecure !
O reign of blifs, too powerful to endure!
When firft we felt from infant years untry'd
Thro' every nerve the ftings of transport glide-
No more with melting founds divinely clear-
Thofe rofeate lips must charm thy lover's ear-
That open front of animated fnow,
Thofe auburn ringlets taught by love to flow,
The graceful act, in native virtue free,
Defpoil'd in youth's unguarded hour by me-
The upbraiding blush-the kind relenting eye
That fummon'd nature to returning joy-
The faith which proffer'd crowns had vainly try'd,
And scarce can heaven with Abelard divide,
For ever loft-nor can the world restore

Thofe flattering fcenes that hope fhall gild no more.?

MONTHLY CATALOGUE.

THE

POETRY..

An Invocation to Melancholy. A Fragment. 4to.

HE fubject of this performance is capable of high poetical imbellishments, and the author has fometimes fucceeded in their delineation. Like Hotfpur, he apprehends a world of gures,' but they are not in general properly methodifed, nor

ac